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My Cruise to South America

My wife and I recently took a cruise to South America aboard Holland America’s ms Zaandam, a medium-sized ship built in 2000. Entertainment activities on the ship included cooking classes and musical performances. Amenities included the Greenhouse Spa & Salon and a fitness room. Our itinerary included stops at Montevideo, Uruguay; Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Punta Arenas, Chile. Keep reading to learn more about the trip’s highlights and to see some photos from our adventure.

Montevideo is the capital city of Uruguay. The city often gets compared to Buenos Aires due to their proximity, but Montevideo is much more than just a Buenos Aires clone. One of the city’s best attractions is the Rambla, which is a series of walkways that span Montevideo’s Atlantic and Río de la Plata coastlines. Ciudad Vieja (Old City) is another popular destination. The area features some of the city’s oldest buildings as well as the Mercado del Puerto, a must-visit for lunch.

Buenos Aires is undoubtedly one of the most famous cities in South America. Travelers who have visited Europe may be surprised by just how European feel of the city. If you have never danced the tango before, Buenos Aires is the best city to learn it in. There are numerous clubs and schools where you can learn or just watch the tango. Recoleta Cemetery is one of the city’s most popular attractions due to the tomb of Evita Perón.

Punta Arenas, Chile is located in southern Chile. If you’re a history buff Puerto Hambre is worth a visit. In 1584 Spanish explorers attempted to settle in the area but died of starvation—hence the name “hambre” which means hunger in Spanish. If you want to get even closer to Antarctica, you should visit Ushuaia. Many refer to the city as the southernmost settlement on Earth due to its location and population. The Tierra del Fuego National Park is one of the city’s best attractions. Not only will you find hiking trails and waterfalls in the park, you can also see glaciers.

Visiting the Falkland Islands was one of the best parts of the trip due to the Magellanic and Gentoo penguins that call the island home. Sea Lion Island is one of the best locations to see birds and, of course, sea lions. The city of Stanley is the island’s capital and most populated town. Outside of Stanley, there are many smaller settlements to explore such as Port Louis and Darwin.